Side seam for sheet metal can bodies



l l June 8; 1937.

H. A. FINK SIDE SEAM FOR SHEET METAL CAN BODIES Filed Aug. 5, 1955 l Patented June 8, 1937 "UNITED srfrlatsu PATENT OFFICE Henry A. Fink, Pelham Manor, N. Y., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 5, 1935, Serial No. 34,812

1 Claim. (Cl. 220-15) lThe invention relates to new and useful improvements in a side seam for a sheet metal can body of the type wherein interlocking hooks are used for joining the edges of the body blank to form the can body.

An object of the invention is to provide a construction of side seam which will facilitate the ilow of solder throughout the interlocked portions of the side seam.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a view of a body blank embodying the improvements;

Fig. 2 is a View showing the hooks formed on the body blank preparatory to the interlocking of the same;

Fig. 3 is a view of a portion of the can body ywith the hooks interlocked and bumped preparatory to soldering, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view transversely through the side seam on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 so as to show the construction of the slits which permit the entrapped gases to escape and also permit the solder to ow freely into the interlocked portions of the side seam. y

In the application led by Alfred L. Kronquest, May 3, 1935, Serial Number 19,717, there is shown and described a side seam for can bodies wherein slits are disposed in the metal forming the hooks so as to permit gases to escape from the interfolded portions of the side seam and thus provide a free capillary ow for the solder to the extreme limits of the side seam. The present invention has to do with an improvement in the manner of vreleasing the entrapped gases and also in the manner of providing the free passage for the solder to the innermost partsthe side seam.v

It is thought the invention will be better understood by a detail description-of the illustrated embodiment thereof. In Fig. 1 of the drawing, the body blank is indicated at I. The body blank is provided with notches 2, 2 so as to form an offset portion 3 which is folded back along the line a-a to form the outer hook of the side seam. The body blank at the opposite side thereof is provided with 'slits'. 4, 4 which form a section 5 that is folded back along the line b-b to form the inner locking hook of the side seam. The portion 3 when turned back 50 forms a hook which is indicated at 6 (Figu&es 2, 3 and 4) 'I'he portion 5 when folded back forms a hook which is indicatedin broken lines at 1 in Figures 2 and 3, `and in full lines in Fig. 4. These hooks 6 and 1 are interlocked as shown in 55 Figures 3 and 4', and then are bumped preparatory to soldering. This provides a lock and lap seam which, so far as described, is of the usual construction.

In carrying out the present invention, the body blank I is provided with a series of slits 8 disposed 5 alon'g the fold line Ltr-a. These slits are spaced from each other and are comparatively short so. as not to weaken the hooks of the interlocked parts. 'Ihey may be increased in number and in length to secure the desired result which will be 10 specically described later. The body blank is alsoprov'ided with a series of slits 9, 9 formed in the metal on the fold line b-b. 'I'he slits are so disposed that when the hooks are formed, and the hooks interlocked and the seam bumped, the 15 slits will be at the base of the outer hook, that is, in the curved portion joining the hook to the body of the container. When so positioned, these slits will be directly opposite the free end 1a of the inner hook 1. The slits 9 will be disposed at 20 the hook 7. The solder will flow by capillary attraction in through the slits 8 into this space Il 30 and along between the outer face of the hook 1, and the metal wall adjacent the same, and also through the space between the inner face of the hook 1 and the outer face of the hook 6. The solder will, of course, ilow into the space between 35 the inner face of the hook 6 and the wall of the container body adjacent thereto. As the solder flows alongthrough these spaces between the walls just mentioned, any entrapped gases in advance of the solder will pass out through the 40 slits 9 and also out through the space I2.' This provides a very free ow for the' solder to the innermost parts of the interlocked hooks, and it also provides for the ready escape of any entrapped gases within the seam. As a result, a solder bond can be obtained which is of uniform extent throughout the'entire limits of the side seam.

While the slits 8 and 9 are shown as staggered, they may be otherwise disposed relative to each other. From some aspects of the invention, the slits 8 may be omitted, and the slits 9 will serve. to permit the entrapped gases to escape and thus increase the eiliciency of the solder bond. On the other hand, from-certain aspects of the ino5 vention, the slits 9 may be omitted, and the slits 8 will aid in the flow of the solder to the innermost parts oi' the side seam. It will also be understood from certain aspects of the invention that the slits 9'which permit the escape ofthe entrapped gases may be otherwise disposed relative to the edge of the blank instead of parallel therewith. It will be understood that changes in the size and disposition of the slits may be made with'- out departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what Igj HENRY A. FINK. 

